Highlights: Tom Thumb, Jam

note the Wake Up tease at the beginning of Sweet Melinda. Cruel Billy, cruel.

I'm not nearly as much of a SCI freak as I used to be but at the time, this was the best show I attended. If you're a big SCI fan, this is definitely a show to get. IMO, the best show of the Winter Carnival and MUCH better than the next night in Vail.

SCI comes out crankin from the beginning and the crowd energy was way up there! Awesome Franklins Tower tease in 100 Year Flood and, despite what the other reviewer said, this Shantytown jam is one of my favorite Cheese jams. It has that techno feel to it that became prevalent in 01-02 so if you don't like techno, then this ain't for you. If you do, then this is must-hear. But all-around a very solid show regardless of techno/bluegrass preferences.

Lots of bluegrass in this one, and the crowd loves it.

The track after Sing a New Song that says "jam" is really Elvis' Wild Ride > epic jam > then going back into Elvis' Wild Ride on the next track. Elvis' is seldom played with the entire band, and I can't think of any with that crazy jam in the middle, kind of like a Blackberry Blossom interior jam but not as techno. It's kind of like an evolution of the 11/1/00 Elvis', that also has the middle jam, but this one is more developed an epic. As Billy says after, "Damn, haven't played it like that before."

The rest of the show is good too. Great drums in Shantytown around the "Drums speak the rhythm of the human race part" (quite pronounced, more than usual). The jam itself during Shantytown is OK. It's no 4/27/01, but it does get good towards the end. The Knockin' on Heaven's door is not really a full-blown cover, tehy just sing the chorus a few times to the background of a Shantytown intro. They don't sing it very well, either, until Kang comes in and saves it with an emotional verse. Still cool though.

Also a better than average Got What He Wanted, especially in terms of energy. I like the Under African Skies a lot in this one, real nice Billy, really upbeat stuff. I do not like the Howard. The Sweet Melinda is better than average, worse than excellent. 2002 was a pretty good year for Sweet Melinda so you can seek out better versions.

Then there is the 100 Year Flood, the non-bluegrass highlight of the show. A franklin's tower opening is not very unusual, but add to it the obviuous Blue Sky jam that closes the song and it is really, really cool.

Quality of the recording- perfectly acceptable.
4 stars and a high recommendation, one of the more overlooked winter carnival shows.